The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

06/05/2026

New reporting highlights research by Prof. Austin Wright on the consequences of the abrupt USAID shutdown. Wright and his co-authors found that African regions with higher historical exposure to USAID experienced sharp increases in conflict after the cuts.

New research suggests the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led to sharp increases in violence throughout Africa. African countries that received the most support from ...

06/04/2026

Senior Lecturer Rebecca Wolfe is live on Reddit for an AMA on conflict, peacebuilding, and development.

Ask your questions: https://har.rs/43hNfHf

06/03/2026

Finnegan Keilty, MPP Class of 2027, writes about his experience in the Career Development Office’s Careers In Municipal Finance” course, in which he and his classmates had the opportunity to learn about public finance and municipal bonds through various issuers, agencies, and nonprofits in the Chicagoland area. "Now, when it comes time to apply for full-time roles, I’ll have had a year of interactions and experiences to reflect on that will help guide my career search."

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Finnegan Keilty, MPP Class of 2027, writes about his experience in the Career Development Office’s “Careers In” courses, a series of noncredit courses that take place throughout a student’s first year and focus on a specific career path.

06/03/2026

Dr. Darryca Brim-Mims of Focus Fairies Mentoring, a member of the current Civic Leadership Academy cohort, joined CBS Chicago to discuss Chicago's Race Against Gun Violence and the importance of community-based efforts to support young people and prevent violence.

The race has been going for more than a decade, explain Rubye Lane and Dr. Darryca Brim-Mims.

06/03/2026

Grad Week began with a UChicago Harris tradition: the Last Lecture.

Senior Lecturer Rebecca Wolfe, an expert in political violence, conflict, and development, shared reflections with the Class of 2026 from her research, policy work, and personal journey, exploring how behavior is shaped by both individuals and the environments around them.

06/01/2026

Rhea Mendiratta, MPP Class of 2026, writes about the skills she built as president of the Behavioral Science and Public Policy (BePP) Harris Student Organization. Read more:

Rhea Mendiratta, MPP Class of 2026, writes about the skills she built as president of the Behavioral Science and Public Policy (BePP) Harris Student Organization.

05/29/2026

📞 A new MindSite News story highlights efforts to help 988 and 911 work more effectively for people in crisis, including work connected to the Health Lab’s initiative focused on improving emergency response systems and caller experiences.

In a new report, experts weigh in on how 988 and 911 can work together to ensure that people in crisis get the help they need.

05/28/2026

🌍 In a new Science study covered by Mother Jones, Prof. Austin Wright examines the consequences of the USAID shutdown, finding that regions in Africa with higher historical aid exposure saw increases in conflict following the cuts.

Researchers are still grappling with the consequences of America's abrupt retreat.

05/27/2026

Meet Julius Kimbrough, MPP ’95, Impact Investment Officer at Mary Reynolds Babcock, who’s rewriting investment policy to foreground racial equity and environmental, social, governance concerns. Kimbrough remains committed to strategically directing philanthropic organizations in a way that builds and rebuilds community.

05/27/2026

Learn more about how federal workers are increasingly shifting toward municipal governments in this week’s edition of Public Money Policy: A Harris Newsletter. Subscribe for the latest insights on fiscal choices, economic policy, and markets. https://har.rs/3TBLZt0